Hi-Tec Men's Ravine Lite WpWalking Shoe

For info, I have owned expensive boots by the likes of Salomon, La Sportiva, Timberland etc. These boots still impressed me. These boots arrived and are remarkably good looking in person. The entire front of the boot is made from a single lovely cut of premium leather without any seams. This allows them to mould as perfectly to the foot as it's possible to get. There are none of the bright colours and fancy bells and whistles seen on most modern boots. These are utterly no nonsense in their simplicity and effectiveness. There is a focus on the toughness and weatherproofing of the materials, streamlined specification and simple shape, with a greater emphasis on the cut and feel of the leather uppers and the tailoring of the internal padding, as well as the soles which are bombproof. The boots are assembled in Europe. The sole is a fairly high-rise in the sense that the heel is 35 mm from the ground, and the rest of the shoe is about 23mm. This is absolutely great since it keeps one safely above waterlogged/frozen ground and provides decent padding when walking over rocks. The tread is aggressive and has no problems with mud, slippery grass, rocks or even ice/frost. There is a strong lace up closure with good stability. The lacing system is quick and easy but allowed varying degrees of tightness and differing lacing points at ease. I found the heel, toe box and arch all done just right and aligned perfectly to my foot. They are just high enough to give ankle support and have enough space to fit wool socks. The inner sole is nicely padded and supportive and the inside of the boot is lined all around with some warm, but very breathable material. Of course, these boots are the Ravine 'Lite'. Compared to the regular Ravine boot they are almost *weirdly* light. They are so light and have such an athletic fit they feel like wearing a pair of trainers. For *my* purposes the 'Lites' are the better choice: I have tested them out on freezing and wet nights trudging through mud. The Dri-Tec waterproof technology has worked perfectly and the boots were very warm. The regular Ravine boot is a bit heavier (still manageable) however it does have advantages in strength and in insulation. If you were going to subject your boots to quite extreme conditions (like a bad highland winter) I would guess that the regular Ravines may be the best choice. ***IMPORTANT NOTE*** I believe that natural leather boots like these give the most comfortable and breathable fit possible. However leather needs due care. I recommend giving a good rubbing of at least a semi decent wax, like Graingers G Wax. Before first wearing them, give your boots a good thick waxing and allow to dry. Then, 'top up' your wax as necessary. This may mean rubbing them after a single outing if you go on a long hike, or could be much longer. As a general rule I would wax them at least every couple of months if they are out of use. All leather boots, no matter how expensive or good, need to be maintained.

Great feeling boots as long as you only wear thin socks or have really narrow feet, definitely need a half size option or just go a size up if you have hobbit feet like me, these feel okay to me walking half a mile with a fractured 3rd metatarsal definitely not medical advice but comfortable enough for walking to the shops through a muddy park, unknown if they're waterproof yet as not gone through more than shallow puddles.

My 4th pair. Comfortable from the get-go, tough and durable. Good for a wide foot. I wear boots every day for walking and can confidently recommend these.

Boots bought September 21st 2022 and by Christmas the leather had split on one boot with the other looking like it would go the same way - see attached pictures. What's so disappointing is that they only had moderate use on easy terrain, and I was determined to look after them well - keeping them freshly waxed to ensure the leather would remain supple and waterproof. I took them into my local shoe repair shop and was told there is no reliable way of repairing the split leather because it's in an area that needs to be able to flex with movement. This is my first bad experience with the Hi-Tec brand and it leaves me uncertain where to go next for a pair of comfortable, reliable, waterproof walking boots. Would the same issue happen on another pair? I can't risk going through this again.

Update after 3.5 years, these are still in good condition, comfortable and performing well. A highly recommended item. * Comfortable straight out of the box. Possibly the most comfortable boots I've ever worn and that includes some big name brands. Wore them all day on a terribly wet and windy day walking over long, boggy grass and my socks were bone dry. They are lightweight too, so no aching legs. After cleaning, I treated them with beeswax and they look like new. Worn several times since (covering loads of miles on rough terrain) and they are still performing perfectly. If they start to fail before the end of winter, I will update.

These boots are great but... the lining has gone in the heel in both boots now after less than 4 months. I wear these 4 days a week to commute to work. They are very comfortable and I think the sole would last a long time, but I have now had blisters in both my heels due to the lining ripping. Not good.

These were not hugely expensive and so I was not expecting to be amazed but they are perfectly adequate. I normally take a size 10 and a half or 11 and I chose a size 12 which fit snuggly with thick socks. So far waterproof and comfortable so I am quite satisfied.

Really nice looking boot, snug fit but should “give” enough in time. Only had them two days. Not been on a major hike yet. Even though they are snug, they are very comfortable, they just don’t breath at all so someone’s got sweaty feet 😆

firstly a good seller and quick postage. These boots for leather are surprisingly light and comfortable from the outset. I haven't used in prolonged rain yet but very wet long grass seem to indicate that they are waterproof but as leather I can use a waterproof conditioner.

As stated in previous reviews the pair I received did not match the US sizing; received “US 11” and fit was 2 sizes small. Stars for build quality and design. I’ve been very happy with previous Hi-tec boots. Wish I could try these out, they don't appear to be available on the US website.

Ha la media hora de caminar con las botas mojadas este es el resultado, las devuelvo..

Bequem und kann stundenlang getragen werden-berauf und bergab

Seem like nice boots. However, the size in the boot doesn’t match the advertised size. I ordered US 14 / UK 13 / EU 48.5. I received US 14 / UK 13 / EU 47. The boots were too small and had to return them. Hopefully Amazon will update their size chart, it’s really difficult to buy large size boots.